By OkayGoal
Everton host Manchester United at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday at 2pm, and after a transfer window that didn’t go the way supporters hoped, all the focus now shifts back to what actually happens on the pitch. This is a winnable game.
United won’t have fully settled yet, the timing suits Everton, and there’s a defeat from last season at this same ground still worth putting right.
Here’s the eleven that gives David Moyes the best chance of doing exactly that, and why every name deserves their place.
Everton predicted lineup vs Manchester United
Jordan Pickford: no other option
Pickford has already started the season brightly, including a nomination for save of the month for his stop from Eddie Nketiah in Everton’s 2-0 win over Crystal Palace. There genuinely isn’t another conversation to be had here.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles: finally, a right-back
Everton spent the entire summer trying to land a right-back. It might not be the exact profile everybody wanted, but Maitland-Niles is a right-back, and he starts there for his Everton debut. He played as a midfielder at Arsenal in that position, but has featured there regularly since his move to Lyon, and even referred to himself as a right-back on his Everton welcome video. That’s good enough reasoning to start him there.
Vitaliy Mykolenko: the only option at left-back
Mykolenko continues there, with Maitland-Niles able to cover that side too if Mason Holgate ever manages to force his way back in at right-back.
Jarrad Branthwaite: a partnership still finding its feet
Branthwaite continues alongside James Tarkowski in the centre of defence. Keeping him fit across a full season remains the priority given the quality he adds to this back line, and this partnership is still developing its understanding after a rocky finish to last week’s draw at Bournemouth, where Tarkowski’s stoppage-time finish rescued a point despite Everton’s role in conceding in the first place.
James Garner: motivated against his old club
Garner starts in midfield against the club he used to play for, continuing his build towards full match fitness after being Everton’s Player of the Season last term. Playing a former club always brings extra motivation, and every additional minute on the pitch pushes him closer to being back to his best.
Harrison Armstrong: impossible to leave out
Armstrong starts alongside Garner after a week that saw news break of a bid from Nottingham Forest that Everton looked ready to accept, right on the morning of the Bournemouth game. He responded by going out and performing excellently at Bournemouth, running out of energy only near the very end, at just 19 years old with all that noise hanging over him.
Evertonians made their feelings clear both during and after that performance, and the club made the right call keeping him. He has started the season brilliantly and deserves his place without question.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: key cog in Moyes’ 11
He is difficult to contain when he is moving with the ball. And given how he has a knack of producing important goals from the midfield, the Merseysiders will be hoping he is at his best today again.
Tyrique George: the attacking option on the right
George gets the nod on the right ahead of alternative options considered for that side. He has started the season very well for Everton, looking bright and sharp, and was genuinely good again at Bournemouth last week. Predominantly a left-sided player during his time at Everton, he has also operated off the right for Chelsea previously, and he gives this side a genuine spark of unpredictability that’s worth having in the team.
Jack Grealish: a big welcome back
Grealish re-signed on deadline day Tuesday night, and his return to the left-hand side is a genuinely significant boost. He was excellent in the first half of last season before his injury at Aston Villa, and specifically shone at Old Trafford, working tirelessly in Everton’s 1-0 win there back in November last season. He adds real quality to this side, buys fouls, buys time on the ball, and Everton will need him at his creative best on Sunday.
Thierno Barry: Everton’s only recognised striker
With just one senior striker option available, there isn’t much of a selection debate here. Barry has already scored four goals and had a further chance at Bournemouth last week that a good save denied him, though he probably should have converted it regardless of the goalkeeper’s efforts. Everton need him taking those half-chances on Sunday and adding to his tally.
Everton predicted lineup vs Manchester United
Pickford; Maitland-Niles, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Garner, Armstrong; George, Gueye, Grealish; Barry